'R' Acronyms

Research and Development R&D  
Research and Development (R&D) means all research activities, both basic and applied, and all development activities that are performed by HHS award recipients. The term research also includes activities involving the training of individuals in research techniques where such activities utilize the same facilities as other research and development activities and where such activities are not included in the instruction function.

Quoted from 45 CFR 75.2.

Research and Development Contract Proposal R&D Contract Proposal  
A written offer to enter into a contract that is submitted to the appropriate agency official by an individual or nonfederal organization which includes, at a minimum, a description of the nature, purpose, duration, and cost of the project, and the methods, personnel and facilities to be utilized in carrying it out. A contract proposal may be unsolicited by the federal government or submitted in response to a Request for Proposals. It consists of a technical proposal and a business proposal.

Quoted from NIH Policy Manual Chapter 6315-1.

See Also: Research and Development Demonstration Contract ;  Research and Development Support Contract
Modular Research Grant Application R01  
See: Modular Application
Research Project (R01) Grant R01  
The Research Project (R01) grant is an award made to support a discrete, specified, circumscribed project to be performed by the named investigator(s) in an area representing the investigator's specific interest and competencies.

For additional information, visit the NCI Grant Activity Codes/Mechanisms webpage.

Small Research Grants R03  
To provide research support specifically limited in time and amount for studies in categorical program areas. Small grants provide flexibility for initiating studies which are generally for preliminary short-term projects and are non-renewable.

For additional information, visit the NCI Grant Activity Codes/Mechanisms webpage.

Research Demonstration and Dissemination Project R18  
To provide support designed to develop, test, and evaluate health service activities, and to foster the application of existing knowledge for the control of categorical diseases.

For additional information, visit the NCI Grant Activity Codes/Mechanisms webpage.

Exploratory/Development Grants R21  
To encourage the development of new research activities in categorical program areas. (Support generally is restricted in level of support and in time.)

For additional information, visit the NCI Grant Activity Codes/Mechanisms webpage.

Phased Innovation Award and the Phased Technology Award R21 & R33, respectively  
NCI staff developed these award to foster the translation of emerging technologies from pilot research-to-research development, speeding the adoption of near-term technological opportunities. The R21 award is an initial short-term award that allows the grantee(s) to test and prove the feasibility and validity of a new/innovative technologic approach to a problem in cancer research and the R33 award is a larger, longer-term award that is approved (or disapproved) by Institute staff after assessing how well the R21 grantee(s) or new R33 applicants have achieved specific milestones. Notices about the availability of these awards are published in the NIH Guide.
Resource-Related Research Projects, and Cooperative Agreements R24  
To support research projects that will enhance the capability of resources to serve biomedical research.

For additional information, visit the Resource Grants webpage, the R-24 Resource-Related Research Projects webpage and the U-24 Resource-Related Research Projects--Cooperative Agreements webpage.

Cancer Education and Career Development Program R25T  
This is a program that was developed uniquely by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to encourage institutions to develop training programs that are multi-departmental and/or multi-institutional and focused on preparing predoctoral and postdoctoral candidates to conduct cancer research in team settings that are highly-interdisciplinary and collaborative.

Please note: NCI no longer accepts applications for the R25T. The last standard application receipt date for R25T applications was May 25, 2013; see NIH Guide Notice NOT-CA-13-008.

Exploratory/Developmental Grants Phase II R33  
To provide a second phase for support of innovative exploratory and developmental research activities initiated under the R21 mechanism. Although only R21 awardees are generally eligible to apply for R33 support, specific program initiatives may establish eligibility criteria under which applications could be accepted from applicants who demonstrate program competency equivalent to that expected under R33.

For additional information, visit the NCI Grant Activity Codes/Mechanisms webpage.

Outstanding Investigator Award R35  
To provide long term support to an experienced investigator with an outstanding record of research productivity. This support is intended to encourage investigators to embark on long-term projects of unusual potential.

For additional information, visit the NCI Grant Activity Codes/Mechanisms webpage.

MERIT Award R37  
See: Method to Extend Research in Time Award
Method to Extend Research in Time Award R37 or MERIT Award  
To provide long-term grant support to investigators whose research competence and productivity are distinctly superior and who are highly likely to continue to perform in an outstanding manner. Investigators may not apply for a MERIT award. Program staff and/or members of the cognizant National Advisory Council/Board will identify candidates for the MERIT award during the course of review of competing research grant applications prepared and submitted in accordance with regular PHS requirements.

For additional information, visit the NCI Grant Activity Codes/Mechanisms webpage.

Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Grants - Phase I R41 STTR  
To support cooperative R&D projects between small business concerns and research institutions, limited in time and amount, to establish the technical merit and feasibility of ideas that have potential for commercialization. Awards are made to small business concerns only.

For additional information, visit the NCI Grant Activity Codes/Mechanisms webpage.

Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Grants - Phase II R42 STTR  
To support in-depth development of cooperative R&D projects between small business concerns and research institutions, limited in time and amount, whose feasibility has been established in Phase I and that have potential for commercialization. Awards are made to small business concerns only.

For additional information, visit the NCI Grant Activity Codes/Mechanisms webpage.

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grants - Phase I R43/U43  
To support projects, limited in time and amount, to establish the technical merit and feasibility of R&D ideas which may ultimately lead to a commercial product(s) or service(s).

For additional information, visit the NCI Grant Activity Codes/Mechanisms webpage.

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grants - Phase II R44/U44  
To support in-depth development of R&D ideas whose feasibility has been established in Phase I and which are likely to result in commercial products or services. SBIR Phase II are considered "Fast-Track" and do not require National Council Review.

For additional information, visit the NCI Grant Activity Codes/Mechanisms webpage.

James A. Shannon Director's Award R55  
To provide a limited award to investigators to further develop, test, and refine research techniques; perform secondary analysis of available data sets; test the feasibility of innovative and creative approaches; and conduct other discrete projects that can demonstrate their research capabilities and lend additional weight to their already meritorious applications.

For additional information, visit the NCI Grant Activity Codes/Mechanisms webpage.

High Priority, Short-Term Project Award R56  
To provide limited interim research support based on the merit of a pending R01 application while applicant gathers additional data to revise a new or competing renewal application. This grant will underwrite highly meritorious applications that if given the opportunity to revise their application could meet IC recommended standards and would be missed opportunities if not funded. Interim funded ends when the applicant succeeds in obtaining an R01 or other competing award built on the R56 grant. These awards are not renewable.

For additional information, visit the NCI Grant Activity Codes/Mechanisms webpage.

Research Analysis and Evaluation Branch RAEB  
The NCI DEA Research Analysis and Evaluation Branch (RAEB) works closely with the NCI Office of Budget and Finance (OBF) to provide budget-linked portfolio data for NCI grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts. In doing so, the Institute has the capability of responding expeditiously to congressional and other inquiries. RAEB has historical budget-linked portfolio data that go back to the 1930s.

RAEB:

  • Serves as the Institute's officially designated, centralized source of scientific information and science-based budget information on NCI-supported research.
  • Analyzes and classifies the science content of all Institute-supported research projects.
  • Analyzes the distribution of funds among research areas; these analyses serve as a basis for budget projections.
  • Reports and answers inquiries on the scientific and budgetary aspects of Institute-funded research, including research grants, center grants, training grants, and research contracts.
  • Maintains liaisons with other organizations involved in related classification activities.
  • Documents the need for proposed RFAs by comparing RFA concepts with existing NCI-supported research and with unsolicited applications.

Source: The NCI Division of Extramural Activities (DEA) 2015 Annual Report "The RAS Initiative".

Rapid Access to Intervention Development RAID  
The Rapid Access to Intervention Development (RAID) Program facilitated the translation of novel anticancer therapeutics from the academic community to the clinic. The program ended in 2009. See https://dtp.cancer.gov/timeline/flash/milestones/M16_RAID.htm for additional information.
Rapid Access to NCI Discovery Resources RAND  
This program assisted academic and nonprofit investigators in the discovery stage of anticancer drug research. RAND could assist in the discovery of small molecules, biologics, or natural products through such mechanisms as the development of high-throughput screening assays, computer modeling, recombinant target protein production and characterization, and chemical library generation.
Rapid Access to Preventive Intervention Development RAPID  
The goal of this program was the expeditious movement of novel molecules and concepts from the laboratory to the clinic for clinical trials of efficacy. Rapid Access to Preventive Intervention Development (RAPID) assisted investigators who submitted successful requests by providing any (or all) of the preclinical and phase 1 clinical developmental requirements for phase 2 clinical efficacy trials. These included, for example, preclinical pharmacology, toxicology, and efficacy studies; bulk supply, GMP manufacturing and formulation; and regulatory and IND support and phase 1 clinical studies. Suitable types of agents for RAPID ranged from single chemical or biological entities to defined complex mixtures with the potential to prevent, reverse, or delay carcinogenesis.
Research Contracts Branch RCB  
See: Office of Acquisitions
Research Condition and Disease Categorization RCDC  
RCDC (Research, Condition, and Disease Categorization) is a computerized reporting process the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is using at the end of each fiscal year to categorize its funding in medical research beginning with fiscal year 2008 (FY 2008) RCDC reports NIH funding in 265 research, condition, and disease categories.

For additional information, visit the RCDC webpage.

Research Centers in Minority Institutions RCMI  
he Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) program develops and strengthens the research infrastructure necessary to conduct state-of-the-art biomedical research and foster the next generation of researchers from underrepresented populations. The RCMI program provides grants to institutions that award doctoral degrees in the health professions or health-related sciences and have a historical and current commitment to serving students from underrepresented populations.

Quoted from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities' (NIMHD) Research Centers in Minority Institutions Program webpage.

Research Enhancement Award Programs REAP  
See: Academic Research Enhancement Award
Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools RePORT  
In addition to carrying out its scientific mission, NIH exemplifies and promotes the highest level of public accountability. To that end, the Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools website provides access to reports, data, and analyses of NIH research activities, including information on NIH expenditures and the results of NIH-supported research.
IMPACII Peer Review Module REV  
The Peer Review module facilitates the initial evaluation of research grant applications in a secure environment by peer review groups, composed of scientists who are experts in the relevant fields of research.

The Peer Review module allows scientific review staff to prepare for, conduct and record outcomes of review meetings (including summary statements that summarize the review of grant applications). The module covers coordination, planning, conducting reviews, making award recommendations and providing review output. The module allows review staff to enter and reuse key information including application data, list of prospective reviewers, committee rosters and reviewer assignments.

Quoted from the eRA Services for NIH Staff and Agency Partners Peer Review webpage.

See Also: Internet Assisted Review
Request for Application RFA  
An RFA is a formal statement that solicits grant or cooperative agreement applications in a well-defined scientific area to accomplish specific program objectives. An RFA indicates the estimated amount of funds set aside for the competition, the estimated number of awards to be made, whether cost sharing is required, and the application submission date(s). For cooperative agreements, the RFA will describe the responsibilities and obligations of NIH and awardees as well as joint responsibilities and obligations. Applications submitted in response to an RFA are usually reviewed by a Scientific Review Group (SRG) specially convened by the awarding component that issued the RFA.

Learn more about types of funding opportunity announcements.

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Request for Contract/Acquisition Plan/Contract Revision RFC/AP/CR  
See: Acquisition Plan/Request for Contract
Requests for Proposals RFP  
Requests for proposals (RFPs) are used in negotiated acquisitions to communicate Government requirements to prospective contractors and to solicit proposals. RFPs for competitive acquisitions shall, at a minimum, describe the—

 (1) Government's requirement;
 (2) Anticipated terms and conditions that will apply to the contract. The solicitation may authorize offerors to propose alternative terms and conditions. If the solicitation permits offerors to submit one or more additional proposals with alternative line items (see 52.204-22 or 52.212-1(e)), the evaluation approach should consider the potential impact of the alternative line items on other terms and conditions or the requirement (e.g., place of performance or payment and funding requirements) (see 15.206);
 (3) Information required to be in the offeror's proposal; and
 (4) Factors and significant subfactors that will be used to evaluate the proposal and their relative importance.

Quoted from §15.203 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) Program (R25) RISE  
RISE (R25) is a developmental program that seeks to increase the capacity of students underrepresented in the biomedical sciences (such as African Americans; Hispanic Americans; Native Americans, including Alaska Natives; natives of the U.S. Pacific Islands and students with disabilities) to complete Ph.D. degrees in these fields. The program provides grants to institutions with a commitment and history of developing students from populations underrepresented in biomedical sciences as defined by the National Science Foundation. By supporting institutions with well-integrated developmental activities designed to strengthen students' academic preparation, research training and professional skills, the RISE Program aims to help reduce the existing gap in completion of Ph.D. degrees between underrepresented and non-underrepresented students. Applicant institutions must award the baccalaureate, master's or doctoral degree in biomedical science fields.

For additional information on RISE, please visit the RISE program page.

Referral Officer RO  
Assigns applications to one primary and one or more secondary Institutes or Centers.
Meeting Roster ROS  
The Meeting Roster lists the attendees at an Advisory Committee meeting.
Review Policy Committee RPC  
The Review Policy Committee (RPC) is the principal forum for the development, implementation, and evaluation of review policies and procedures for all types of research, training, and development awards submitted to the NIH.
Research Project Grant RPG  
An award made to an institution/organization to support discrete, specified, circumscribed projects to be performed by named investigators in areas representing their specific interest and competencies.

Research Project Grants and Cooperative Agreements include the following activity codes:

  • R00, R01, R03, R15, R21, R33, R34, R35, R36, R37, R50, R56, R61, RC1, RC2, RC3, RC4, RF1, RL1, RL2, RL9, P01, P42, PM1, PN1, RM1, UA5, UC1, UC2, UC3, UC4, UC7, UF1, UG3, UH2, UH3, UH5, UM1, UM2, U01, U19, U34, DP1, DP2, DP3, DP4, DP5.

NIH's most commonly used grant program is the Research Project Grant Program (R01).

Quoted from the NIH OER Glossary & Acronym List.

Research Performance Progress Report RPRR  
The Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) is used by grantees to submit progress reports to NIH on their grant awards.

For additional information, visit the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) webpage.